Hmmm…it’s coming to that time of the year again.

Is it wrong that I look at it with trepidation and, dare I say it, slight fear?

Maybe it’s because I’ve been disappointed by it several times before.

I know, it’s terrible. Isn’t it supposed to be a joyful day? Me thinks because I’ve been burned before, I always have this niggling fear at the back of my mind.

Part of me wants to go round declaring it to everybody but another part of me wishes otherwise. It’s so conflicting, it hurts!

Anyway…I was this close to saying something online elsewhere but went, “You know what? Who’s gonna care?”

Exactly.

At a party earlier on tonight, we got asked by several people why we weren’t at someplace in the morning.

Reason: we needed to have a heart-to-heart talk about us.

First off, people, we’re doing great. Really, I’m not covering anything up. It’s just that there are times when you need to sit down together and nut things out. I knew deep in my heart that if we hadn’t done it earlier today, we’d probably would’ve forgotten about it and left it in a corner to gather dust.

I’m really glad we did decide in the end to take ourselves off and have a chai latte (not the coffee version) while we just talked.

Things became clearer and I discovered a new thing about the man I love. I saw just how passionate he was about child abuse, in particular sexual child abuse. As I mulled it over in my mind as we drove home, I realised that an anger was building inside of me. Not an anger at my husband but an anger at how such a thing like child abuse can exist.

I also realised that we both held the same view in that we both fully believe every child deserves a normal blessed childhood, free from fear, shame or guilt.

It just isn’t right that we can live in such an excessive society when there are children out there who are being made to live in horrible conditions that some people wouldn’t even put their dog through! How can it be that animals get treated better than human children? Don’t get me wrong in that I don’t care about animals but honestly, it really turns me off to see pets being spoiled stupidly.

I do know that my husband and I decided together we would do what we could to support organisations who are helping to stop child abuse.

Here’s one you can start with: Child Wise

The great news came early and coincided with another happy occasion. Two birthdays at one go from now on!

A new beginning for a little family (that will maybe grow bigger? )

Welcome to the family, little Hanna. We consider it a privilege you’ve made your presence known and may God pour His blessings and grace into your life.

Can’t wait to meet you and your parents!

*big cuddles from us*

Phew! The drama team can now have rest after tonight!

Thank God for the opportunity for us to do this - I sincerely hope it touched people and made them ponder on life’s issues.

I had SO much fun and it was a total blast! We were all bundles of nervous energy but in the end, the performance levels were amazing! I was blown away by how each person totally embodied their character.

I so badly wanted to be sitting in the audience to have the full view of the drama unfolding onstage but I was the props/costume/set up person so I could only hear voices and see shadows. Nonetheless, the feedback we got afterwards was extremely encouraging to kudos to the drama team. So proud of them!

Next up - the wrap party! Woohoo!

I’ve hit yet another wall.

Or is the wall actually a wall of protection/guidance?

I don’t know.

All I know is that in spite of my frustration, I know He has a plan for me. A plan that I can’t even begin to fathom.

I will hold fast to His promises.

Psalm 119:81-82 - I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true…

A snippet of a conversation we had in the car quite a while back - nearly over a year and a half ago.

“I’m really full.”

“Why? What did you eat?”

“I ate a grape.”

“You…ate a grape?” *incredulous look*

*me realising the stupidity of my sentence*

“I meant to say I ate grapes…not A grape.”

*much laughing*

On the way to work this morning, I wandered down memory lane and visited many spots. Most were pleasant and some bore painful traces that would soon fade.

I then started thinking about my best friends. These are ones who’ve stuck with me all these years and whoa, dudes, we’re gonna hit a DECADE this year! Aaaaahhh…

I already have two biological brothers that I love very much (and am very proud of) but I always wanted older brothers. Mainly so I could “bermanja” and be protected. Heh. OK, so I don’t really get to “bermanja” with these two but they do protect me in their own way.

I can say, hand on heart, I see them like an additional set of brothers. Sure, we don’t talk all the time (boys don’t do that sort of thing, you see) but when we do, it’s like we never stopped talking at all.

We’ve almost grown up together (yet far apart after leaving high school). We’ve seen each other at our worst (my ugly high school look…ugh) and at our best (seeing one enter the Golden Key Society and the other snag a great job/traineeship). There’s a mutual bond of support and wanting the best for each other. Once it was said (paraphrased), “I may not always agree with what you do but I’ll be here to catch you if you fall.”

It’s odd how we mesh but we do. They are part of my group of greatest supporters in life and also one my greatest teasers. -.-” I hope they knew how much it meant to me that they were present on my wedding day (and the support leading up to it) and I hope to be there on their individual special days.

In fact, I’m looking forward to the day when we’ll get to gather together with our own families (yeah, kids - can you imagine that?! Haha!) and watch the kids interact with one another. Who knows? We could start new generation of friendship!

Two guys, a girl and a classroom was where it all started. Form 5 seemed so far away then, then uni, then working life but look where we are now. I hope to keep celebrating life with you two a long way down the track. Big hugs to you two boys (ehem, men?).

All that, I think I’m getting far too excited about a possible 10th anniversary reunion. Rawr.

I just had a small revelation in the form of a broken mug.

You see, I came home and found on our kitchen benchtop, a broken mug that my husband had tried to glue back together and little shards in a pile.

My initial reaction was, “How’d that happen??” Then the next thought was, “Ah well. It’s nothing now.”

I was pleasantly surprised with myself. Had this happened say, four years ago, me thinks I would’ve been pretty upset. I wouldn’t say devastated but fairly upset.

It was a gift that bore bittersweet memories but those memories are overshadowed by much happier and loved memories.

I’d been using that mug as a toothbrush mug for nearly 5 years. I’d come to like looking at its gaily painted childlike design and no longer associated it with anything/anyone. It had successfully become just another thing. Rare are the things that I once cherished as sentimental objects that evolve their status to mere household objects.

So yes, I suppose, my husband’s accidental breaking of it is God’s way of reminding me that yes, the past is definitely past and I’m so very blessed and loved where I am now and where I will be. I don’t diss past experiences for one never learns/grows without it but I shall certainly aim to not dwell on “what was” and focus instead on “what is to come”

Wow. Just wow.

That was my reaction when I read about this online via The Australian. This is the article - go down to the section titled “DETECTIVE loathes“.

Seriously though, how lazy is today’s consumer when an egg company decides that, “Hey! Let’s sell them PRE-boiled AND PRE-shelled eggs! AND…AND…we shall say that they’re FREE RANGE - that will get the suckers! Yes yes yes…I can see the money rolling in. Lay golden eggs, my pretties, GOLDEN eggs! Muahahahahahahaa…”

Right right. Enough of my imaginary evil CEO dialogue. But, honestly, how hard can it be to boil an egg? Most people know that boiled eggs don’t last forever so how long would they be able to keep it stocked on the supermarket shelves before having to chuck it out into the dumpster?

I wonder what was the response of the ad agency who was enlisted to do the advertising for it. Kerflummoxed/disbelief at first? I don’t know. I know I would have definitely cracked (pardon the pun) a silly grin the first time I was presented with it.

As much as I like some convenience foods, e.g. canned soup, I still think that eggs sold in the above form are a bit OTT.

Don’t know how many Victorians have seen the new TAC telly ad for driving under the influence of drugs.

If you’ve not seen it yet, here it is:

I caught it on telly a couple nights ago and man, the ending literally made me jump in my comfy corner lounge seat. As I was watching it, I kept expecting something bad to happen but it didn’t. It just kept building up until BAM - there you have it.

Overall, I thought it had great execution and was really hard hitting. But, I’m left wondering how much does it really relate to drug usage? I suppose it’s more when you’re in a haze but look, anyone not really paying attention on the road can end up as a bloody puddle if the wrong circumstances meet.

Moral of the day: Don’t assume.

What do you think of the new TAC ad?